I'm not super into high contrast in my own designs. Instead of a white and black checkered floor I'd probably do a light gray and a dark gray. Instead of painting two different colors for my chevron wall I choose two shades and sheens of the same color. Bold, colorful, dynamic design just isn't what I want to live in on a daily basis. But neither is monochromatic design, which is hard to do well and interestingly - mostly it turns into a boring blob of neutral sadness.

So I was surprised this weekend to see how the A-Frame dining room is turning out. Super monochromatic, right?

But here is why I think it works:

The table is a chevron design as well as being an old door, adding a twist to what you'd expect from a dining room table. The woods vary in color, making it warm and friendly but not like you're drowning in wood. The curve in those chairbacks balances with the straightness of the bench across from them and is echoed by the jar on the table. The chevron on the wall panels adds a subtle visual surprise and contrast and speaks to the table. The woven elements on the table add texture. The jar on the table adds a sense of history, a tiny bit of color, and adds to the earthiness of the whole picture. The candle holders keep the room from feeling too spare and the candle color brings the outside foliage in. The beach rocks embedded in the window add just the right amount of "Huh?", which is always good to do with a monochromatic scheme. You need some "Huh?" so it doesn't become "Zzzzzz."